Happy Early Birthday to ME!!!

Last year we spoiled Danny for his birthday (new ice fishing tent and everything to go along with it) so this year it was my turn.  Happy early birthday to me.  I got a new treadmill and a new car!  I got to pick them both out and with our tax return I got to get them before my birthday.  I am loving them both.

My new treadmill:  It comes with a weight set and has programmed weight loss workouts that use the weights.  Just wish we had our basement either cleaned up or finished so it didn't take up so much room in our front room but, oh well.  After we put the kids to bed, instead of sitting on my butt all night watching TV, I walk on my treadmill while watching my favorite shows.

My new car:  We got a 2003 Ford Expedition when we first got married.  With the recent gas prices it has been costing us $100 to fill it up every two weeks.  And with 100,000 miles and the air bag suspension leaking making it not work properly so the ride was way too bumpy and making the car lean to one side causing the tires to wear faster on one side, and with the CD player broken, AND the fact that Danny hates fixing Fords...and, and, and...it was time to trade it in.  While I will definitely miss the built in DVD player for the kids for the long road trips we take and all the room for everyone and everything, I will not miss paying to fill it up or the bumpy ride.   Good bye Ford!

 Seated 8 but we usually had the 3rd row down for all our stuff!

And HELLO to my new car.  We went back to the dealership where we bought the Ford because they buy used cars so we could just trade it in easily and get a new car in the same night.  Luckily they gave us the same amount for the Ford that we still owed on the loan so we were not out any extra money or rolling over any more money into a new loan and we got our new car for the same amount so our payments didn't change.

Danny went wanting only to look at minivans or a car that he actually wanted to fix (UGH! minivans are not for me-yes I am spoiled:) so I was glad when the salesman led us over to the smaller SUVs.  I instantly wanted a certain car that we saw so Danny looked up reviews and we saw that it got better gas mileage so we took it for a test drive.  I was sold and Danny finally admitted that he is glad we got it so here is our new car.  A 2009 Dodge Journey SXT.  All leather (great for cleaning up after kids), seats 7 but the 3rd row stows away so we can still have lots of space for our stuff when we travel, nice smooth ride, and it's still my favorite color-blue.  Of course the first thing Memphis noticed was that it didn't have a DVD player.  We will just have to go buy a portable one before our next trip.